Donate - Ohio History Connection

As a donor, you fuel our unique work discovering and sharing every Ohioan's story, including yours!

Each dollar is vital for today's work educating people of all ages about yesterday's stories, with the hope of building a better future tomorrow. Your support's impact helps in:

Enhancing public access to Ohio's first World Heritage Site, the Hopewell Ceremonial Earthworks;
Welcoming 400,000 visitors annually across our 58 sites statewide;
Making more than 700,000 archival materials we've made accessible from all of Ohio's 88 counties;
Educating about 50,000 schoolchildren at our sites annually;
Curating, cleaning, storing and cataloguing nearly 2 million artifacts;
Managing the Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit program, which has invested more than $432 million in historic buildings since its inception;
Preserving over 4,200 historic properties;
Establishing and maintaining nearly 1,800 historic markers across Ohio.

Other Ways to Give

Make a Legacy Gift

Legacy gifts come in all shapes and sizes and are critical sources of funding that help us preserve, collect and share Ohio's stories. As soon as you signify your planned gift, you are a member of the Eleanor C. Mabry Legacy Society, where our members lead the way in preserving Ohio history for future generations.

Make a Gift of Stock

Our staff can help you give stock or other appreciated securities that you have owned for at least one year. You can deduct your cost, plus your capital gain up to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income. Please contact Ann Ruege, Chief Development Officer, at 614.297.2342 for information on having your gift electronically transferred to the Ohio History Connection Foundation via our brokerage firm.

Make a Gift Through Your IRA

Many donors make annual charitable contributions with assets in their individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Click here for more information on how to give to the Ohio History Connection through your IRA.

The Cardinals – Monthly Giving Society

Maximize your impact for Ohio history and become a Cardinal! The Cardinals is our new monthly giving program for supporters who want to invest in preserving history for future generations.

Commemorative Benches at Ohio Village

Celebrate the life of a loved one, a special occasion or just show your support for Ohio history through a commemorative bench at Ohio Village. Funds raised through this program support the Ohio History Connection's mission to preserve and share Ohio's stories. A commemorative bench is available for Annual Fund gifts of $2,500 or more. The six-foot benches are personalized with a plaque that can include up to three lines of text. For more information or to request a commemorative bench, please contact 614.297.2310 or by sending us a message by visiting our Contact Us page and selecting "Donations" from the drop down menu

Donate By Mail

Please make all gifts payable to Ohio History Connection. If you wish to designate your gift, please include a note with the name of the project, program or site of your choice. All undesignated gifts will be contributed to the Annual Fund and will be used where funds are needed the most. For more information, contact the Development Office at 614.297.2310.

Ohio History Connection
ATTN: Development Office
800 E. 17th Ave.
Columbus, OH 43211

Development Contacts

Chief Development Officer

Ann Ruege
Chief Development Officer
614.297.2342

Grace Grammer
Administrative Assistant
614.297.2310

Donor Relations

Anthony Gibbs
Donor Relations Manager
614.297.2477

Debra Mason
Annual Giving Officer & Conestoga Liaison
614.297.2225

Glennda McGann
Development Officer - World Heritage Program
614.297.2681

Paulene Wilson
Grants & Planned Giving
614.297.2322

Frankie Gianessi
Development Assistant
614.297.2214

Membership

Truda Shinker
Department Manager, Membership
614.297.2334

Kalita Griffea
Membership Coordinator, Data Processing

Katie Swett
Membership Coordinator
614.297.2315